Martin Luther King III visits UN’s memorial to victims of slavery

16 December 2019 – Martin Luther King III, the son of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., today visited the Ark of Return, the United Nations’ Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

He was accompanied by his wife, Arndrea Waters King, and his daughter, Yolanda Renee King.

Following a briefing by Maher Nasser, Director of the United Nations’ Department of Global Communications’ Outreach Division, Mr. King said, “My wife and I and our daughter are truly honored to be here at the United Nations to visit this memorial… that acknowledges slavery and the real tragedy that slavery has done to our world, particularly for African people. But this monument is beyond moving as a tribute because the institution of slavery can never be forgotten – the inhumanity, how people were reduced to being far less than human beings and forced to come on a journey that no one ever should have to have gone through.”

Mr. King added, “But the fact of the matter is that memorials keep the focus in perspective and particularly at this time in our world as we are looking at racism in America. My father and mother dedicated their lives to the eradication of what Dad called the triple evils of poverty, racism, militarism and violence. And slavery obviously was bred out of racist mentality, and we have to stomp out all the vestiges of racism so that we can move to a higher level and become a better society.”

Mrs. King said, “I think it has often been said that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, and it is our hope that, as people come to this memorial, that they continue to rededicate and renew themselves to the issues of peace, justice and equity, and that we truly usher in a decade that really embraces those principles.”

Yolanda added, “I think it’s important that we have a story. And so this is an important part of the UN, and people should know the history of this form of slavery. And I think that every sculpture here and that every piece of art and everything that’s put in here has a meaning to it. And I think that this reflect their impact, their perspectives.”

Martin Luther King III and his family at the Ark of Return. UN Photo: DGC/BJ Rubin.

Maher Nasser of the UN Department of Global Communications explains the significance of the Ark of Return to Martin Luther King III and his family. UN Photo: DGC/BJ Rubin.